Lori Kennedy's Story
by Lori Kennedy

Here is my story. In October, 2000, I gave birth to my first child. In July 2001, I went to my OB for my 6 month postpartum checkup, and because my left breast was leaking a brown discharge. I had no idea that the discharge could be a sign of cancer. I didn't go sooner because I thought it was from having the baby. My OB felt my breasts and felt a little lump but he thought is was probably from having the baby. He said l"Let's check it again in 2 months".

On Sept. 17, 2001, I went back to see him. A few days before, I felt the lump was bigger and was a little nervous. I also was having a little back pain, but I thought it was from a sprain in my back from a bad twist I had a few weeks before. He squeezed and poked my breast and he felt the lump was bigger. He then did an ultrasound and a needle aspiration. I was then sent to have a mammogram and another ultrasound. The mammogram did not show a thing. They couldn't tell on the ultrasound if it was cancerous because my breast was bruised from the needle aspiration. The radiologist didn't seem that concerned. They said to come back in 6 months. However, on my way home from their, my husband called me saying my OB got the results from the aspiration and it was suspicious for cancer. I broke down in tears and was a nervous wreck. My OB then set me up with a general surgeon. The surgeon saw me within a week and felt the lump. He wanted to do an excisional biopsy. He said my chances were 50/50 that it was cancerous. I could tell by the look on his face, it was serious. I then had a part of the lump removed and it was cancer.

I just couldn't believe it. I had just turned 35 and had breast cancer. The worst was telling everyone. My poor husband looked so mortified when we heard the news. It comes to be I had a Stage 2-3 tumor (4cm) in my left breast. I then went to see an oncologist. As soon as we met with him, I knew I wanted him to be my doctor. He started telling us about all the treatments available to me. We were probably going to do neo-adjuvant chemotherapy then surgery. Unfortunately, the news got worse. My oncologist got the results of my CAT scan and bone scan. The CAT scan was clear, but the bone scan had suspicious spots. The cancer had gone into my bones. My husband and I got the news on the way home from the surgeon's office. We both thought it was over for me. I then had a bone biopsy, which confirmed the spots on my bones were the same cancer as in my breast. We felt so numb. It was surreal. Last year was the happiest time in our life. The child that we waited so long for finally came to us. Then this year, I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer.

My oncologist was wonderful though. I call him my angel. After we got the news, he called us from a conference that he was at on a Friday night. He spoke with my husband and I for an hour telling us about all the treatments that were available for bone mets. When we got off the phone, we both felt some hope. I learned that breast cancer does not have to be an automatic death sentence. I am now on hormonal therapy and Zometa for my bones. My tumors are ER+ and Her2Neu-. So far, the hormonal therapy has been keeping it mostly stable. Though at some point, I will have to go on chemotherapy.

At this time, I am glad to be a breast cancer survivor. However, for me, breast cancer has been like a thief in the night. I have read many stories from survivors who say cancer had brought positive change in their life. I hope one day I will be able to say the same. I call it a thief because it has come at a time when my husband and I were in the middle of having our family. It took away our chance of completing our family. Don't get me wrong; I am extremely lucky and blessed to have my son. I know there are many women who do not have any children. I just never wanted my son to be an only child. I fear him being alone if something happens to my husband or I. I also hate that he will have to see me sick at some point. It took away my thoughts for the future as well. I once had many plans, but now I do not know if I will be here for my future or to see my son's future. I have no idea of what my cancer may do or how incapacitated I may become. I am trying my best to accept this and to be happy that I have a child, a husband and a great family who love me. Right now I am lucky because I feel pretty good. I know I must focus on fighting this disease. I am trying to remain positive. So for now, I am glad to be surviving and I thank God for every day I am given. I will enjoy my family and friends and the rest is in God's hands.

My advice to young women is to get familiar with your breasts. Check them monthly. I especially urge pregnant and postpartum women to also check their breasts monthly, and if you have any strange looking discharge to get it checked immediately. The sooner you catch something the better. As I have learned, no one is immune to breast cancer. Praying for a cure.